Can you think of any greater privilege than to be called to be a leader in the church of Jesus Christ? The church is his Body, his Bride, the Temple of his Spirit, his Flock, his Army, and his Family.

Can you think of any greater responsibility than leading his church?

This is why God's Word has laid before us such challenging requirements for Christian leadership. The standards are rightly high, not ...

Topics:	Calling, Character, Character & integrity, Development, Doctrine, Leadership, Leadership styles, Pastor's family
Filters:	Christian education, Church board, Deacon, Discipleship, Elder, Pastor
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, Ephesians 4:11, 2 Timothy 2:15, 2 Timothy 3:5
Date Added:	July 12, 2007

You know your church needs to rethink its strategy. You know there is no real sense of how to accomplish the work that God has called your church to do. You look at your church, and it seems that every year is simply a repeat of the past year. There is nothing intentional about what you do. But you wonder if strategic planning is biblical. First, you wrestle with this in your own mind. Then you realize ...

Topics:	Doctrine, Goals, Leadership, Master plan, Objectives, Planning, Spiritual leadership, Strategy, Vision
Filters:	Church board, Church staff, Deacon, Discipleship, Elder, Pastor
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	1 Chronicles 12:32, Proverbs 19:21, Acts 1:8
Date Added:	July 12, 2007

Terror seized me by the throat a few months into my engagement to be married. Ardor turned to horror. Hot pursuit suddenly got cold feet. This came with a fundamental realization: If I had this woman, I couldn't have any of the others. If I said "yes" to one, I was saying "no" to millions. Not that this was the breadth of my options, mind you—but whatever options I might have had before I said ...

Topics:	Discipleship, Doctrine, Pop culture, Postmodernism, Shepherding, Teaching
Filters:	Christian education, Church board, Pastor, Preaching, Shepherd, Small groups, Volunteer
Purpose:	Discipleship
References:	Acts 4:12
Date Added:	October 02, 2007

How can pastors make theology interesting to people who aren't often exposed to theological thinking? How do you decide what doctrines to teach?

Theology does not belong to the ivory tower but to every blood-bought Christian. To know and study God is a right of the new birth, and an ongoing joy for those who love the Savior. When theology is studied properly, it draws us nearer to the Savior in love, ...

One reason theology is resisted is that, according to Romans 1:18, people tend to suppress the aspects of biblical truth which confront their sin and command them to repent. When preaching and teaching, then, you should anticipate your audience's objections and take the time to address them. This stresses the importance of what you're teaching, and often elicits a passionate response from people. ...